Asheville Planning & Zoning approves senior living development - Citizen Times

ASHEVILLE - A 141-unit senior living development slated for New Leicester Highway has cleared its penultimate hurdle after clinching Planning and Zoning Commission approval at its Dec. 7 meeting.

The commission voted unanimously to approve conditionally zoning the 4.92-acre parcel, currently a wooded, vacant lot, at 157 New Leicester Highway, about 1 mile north of Patton. According to the staff report, developers propose a single multi-family building, with site improvements including expanded off-street parking, new sidewalks, a pool and gazebo.

Site plans were prepared for Kansas-based Cohen-Esrey Development Group, which advertised the project as a "senior affordable housing project," according to prior Citizen Times reporting.

"I do like the fact that this is designated senior living," said attorney Derek Allen with Allen, Stahl and Kilbourne, who was representing the applicant at the Dec. 7 meeting. "It's something we are missing in the marketplace."

Previous coverage: 141-unit senior living development proposed for New Leicester Hwy, 20% affordable

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Final approval rests with Asheville City Council in February.

Though commissioners had some discussion about technical aspects of the project, there were no outstanding critiques. No one spoke during public comment.

After the meeting, Clark Mills, southeast development director for Cohen-Esrey, said he was glad it went well.

"We always love to provide a development that fits in with the community, and this is always an important step," he said.

All 141 units are slated for a single four/five split-story building. At 161,100 square feet, submitted plans for the building show a common area and observation balcony. The development is for residents 55 and older. Mills said the units will be a mix of one- and two-bedrooms, with an about 50/50 split of each.

According to the staff report, 28 units, or 20%, will be designated affordable at 80% area median income for a minimum of 20 years. Of these affordable units, 14, or 50%, will accept housing choice vouchers.

Per Asheville's affordability table, 80% AMI is $42,100 for a one-person household and $48,100 for a two-person.

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Allen said the project will seek a Land Use Incentive Grant, the city's property tax abatement program in exchange for affordable housing.

This request will likely also go to City Council in February, he said.

Mills said he was excited to have found out about the LUIGI program, and once he learned of it, began pushing harder to bring development to the city. This is Cohen-Esrey's first project in Asheville. The company is a nationwide developer focused on affordable housing.

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"This project wouldn't happen without it," Mills said of the grant.

Access to the site will be provided by an existing driveway located on New Leicester Highway.

The project will include a total of approximately 150 parking spaces, which may vary based on the required buffers of streams and wetlands on site. The minimum number of parking spaces provided will be 141 spaces.

Though the zoning district requires 10-foot-wide sidewalks to be constructed, according to the staff report, a future sidewalk along New Leicester Highway is already planned by the city, so no new sidewalks is required of the project along this portion of roadway. However, the project will be required to pay a fee-in-lieu.

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The project is proposing new five-foot sidewalks internal to the site and along the western side of its proposed driveway.

Mills said if the project is approved, they hope to break ground in April or March 2023. With 18-22 months anticipated for construction, units could be available for lease in early 2025.

Sarah Honosky is the city government reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. News Tips? Email shonosky@citizentimes.com or message on Twitter at @slhonosky.

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